⚘ Catkins Before Leaves: Seasonal Timing in Northeastern Willows

In the Northeast, willows are among the first woody plants to wake from winter dormancy. Their catkins appear in late winter to early spring, often before the leaves unfold. Male and female trees bear separate catkins that release abundant pollen and nectar, making willows one of the earliest and most important food sources for bees and other pollinators. The one in the banner is a male pussy willow from our Lusitania site that I photographed in late March 2022.

Leaf emergence follows quickly as temperatures rise. Shoots then grow rapidly through the moist stretch of the growing season, especially along riverbanks, floodplains, and wetland edges where willows thrive. By late summer, growth slows and the season’s shoots begin forming buds. These buds harden as autumn approaches, preparing the trees for winter and closing a phenological cycle that closely tracks floodplain hydrology and the needs of early spring pollinators. 

📷 Pussy Willow · Saule Discolore (Salix discolor) | © Claire O'Neill, please credit accordingly.